Stress Evident on the Course

 

With no significant rainfall in over 2 weeks, temperatures in the upper 90s and increased cart traffic on the course this year and the stress is evident everywhere.  We have always used less water in years past throughout the course to allow the course to play firmer, but this year our lack of irrigation accuracy has exposed our weaknesses.  Not to mention outings and outside events crammed on top of each other and the course already looks tired and we are just entering August.  In the pictures above you will see where carts funnel and regardless how we irrigate, the turf cannot tolerate it.  We also have these same stresses on fairways where carts enter and exit and around fairway bunkers, where traffic is funneled.  The only solution is to increase our water usage to "hide" these stresses, but this can jeopardize our Water Allocation Permit and more importantly our turf health and playability.  While we did get over a half inch of rain last night, the forecast called for 1-3" which would have been good for everything including filling our ponds.  We will be back at irrigating again in another day or so with lower temperatures and lower humidity on the horizon.  The new irrigation system will definitely help us next year with more accurate coverage and control capabilities.

Limit Disruption to Members

 

As you can see by the picture, this is the first time we are crossing the front of a fairway and once the trench is dug and existing pipes are hand dug, the pipe can then be installed.  We shut down the 8th tees at noon on Wednesday and will reopen by the afternoon today, disrupting about 24 hours of play.  The smaller pipe you see to the right of the trench will recirculate water from 13 pond up to 4 fairway, to give the ditch a more natural look as it runs through the 3rd and 4th holes.

Brutal Weather

 

It is bad enough we have had triple digit temperatures a few times now in the last 2 weeks, but during an outing when we need to quickly get water on greens makes it even more challenging.  Leaving greens on edge requires more men to be on them more often.  Keeping greens as dry as possible during this heat is actually better for the turf.  Over watering with high humidity and heat can lead to a slew of problems.  Unfortunately when we are busy, we often have to improvise and put 2 men on a green to get it done before the next groups are hitting in to the green.  The challenge with this job is to provide the best conditions no matter what the weather is with as little to no impact on the golfer experience.

Tedious Work

 

While it seems that putting pipe in the ground is easy, just dig and put it in, but I wish it were that easy.  The contractor has to make sure not to break any existing pipes that are keeping the golf course alive right now, so we have to locate them and carefully dig around them.  This main on 8 feeds most of the golf course and if this were to be broken, we would have to shut pumps down, and that is not an option when it is 100 degrees every day.  The white pipe on top feeds the bathroom too and all the wires are for heads.  As you can see our new main lines are going to be right next to the existing making it even more difficult.  

Mainline Installation

 

If you have been out playing this week, you have noticed that the irrigation project is underway.  Mainline installation has begun on the 8th hole and you will see what is involved during and after.  The bottom picture shows what most of the area will look like once the mains are backfilled and cleaned up.  The key is to make it look like they were never there.

Pipe Fusing Underway

 

The tedious process of fusing mainlines together has begun today.  No more cement or gasket joints, just heating/fusing pipes together that if done properly will last 30 years.  Right now LaBar Irrigation will fuse a bunch of pipe together before installing in the ground.  Looks like Tuesday or Wednesday we will start breaking ground along the 13th hole in the rough.

Planning, Planning, Planning

 

Never underestimate how much space you need to create a construction compound.  The entire area by the old house is being used to store materials, equipment, offices and fuel for our irrigation project.  Once the construction gets going it will grow even bigger.  This is a major project with a major contractor!